Connecter for wrist watch straps



Aug. 20, 1935. s. RITTER CONNECTER FOR WRIST WATCH STRAPS Filed June 22, 1934 INVENTOR 5 R/ 775R ATTORNEY) Patented Aug. 20, 1935 2,012,054 CONNECTER FOR WRIST WATCH STRAPS Saul. Bitter, Far Rockaway, N. Y., assignor to Brunet-Bitter, -Inc., a corporation of New York Application June 22, 1934, Serial No. 731,927

5 Claims. (Cl. 24-265) This invention relates to a wrist watch strap and relates more particularly to an improved hinge pin or connecter for attaching a strap to a wrist watch.

It is the practice to provide a wrist watch with a pair of lateral bearing lugs at each end of the watch case. These lugs are used for the purpose of connecting a chain or strap to the watch. The strap is usually provided with a tubular casing or member at the attaching ends, which member is of slightly less length than thedistance between, opposite surfaces of the lugs and is provided with spring actuated axially movable pins.

These pins normally project from the ends of the tubular casings and when the ends of the strap or chain are to be connected with the watch case, the pins are pressed inwardly and snapped into journal apertures in the bearing lugs.

Watch cases are made in various sizes and the lugs therefor of difierent cases made by difierent manufacturers are often spaced different distances apart. This makes it necessary for-the dealer, who sells wrist watch straps separately for connection to the watch of a purchaser, to have straps with end pieces of different lengths to fit the spaces between the bearing lugs of different watches.

Obviously this requires a large stock of merchandise and it is not always possible for the purchaser to obtain a strap of a particular or desirable design.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wrist watch chain with a connecting member adjustable for various size casings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple adjustable hinge pintle for use as a connection between a watch casing and a chain or strap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connecter or hinge element consisting of a pair of oppositely movable connecter pins in which the movements of the pins are equalized.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following description together with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a watch case having a chain connected thereto by a connecter constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the connecter element shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is' an enlarged detail View partly in section showing the present construction of hinge connecter as applied to the end of a chain taken on line III--III in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line IV-IV and Fig. 5 is a view taken on line V-V in Fig. 3. 5

A connecter-member constructed in accordance with the present invention may comprise a tubular casing or sleeve II! (see Fig. 3) having open ends through which extension members or slide bars H project. Each extension is provided 10 with a pin I2 to enter journal apertures on bearing lugs I3 and I4 of the character usually provided on a watch casing I5.

The casing is divided by a stop or partition I6 to oppose the action of springs I1 and I8. An 15 end of each spring is disposed in a socket I9 in an extension II and the spring acts .to urge the extension outwardly. A collar 2I on the shoulder and a shoulder 22 on the casing serve to limit the outward movement of the extensions.

Each spring may have the same degree of expansive force so that the actions of the extensions are equalized. Thus when an extension is depressed for insertion into a bearing aperture in Fis. 3,

no force is applied to the opposite extension and 25,

the operation of applying the connective hinge to a watch casing is facilitated. Moreover, this equalizing action keeps the tubular casing III central between the bearing lugs when the device is in use.

The connecters or hinges may be used as terminals for any suitable type of chain having links 24. as shown and the tubular casing III may be provided with portion 25 bendable about an ami I 26 of a link to hold the hinge element but leaving it free to rock in the manner of a link of the chain.

It will be evident that the extensions may be made of a suitable minimum length to accommodate casings having differently spaced lugs. If the distance between the lugs I3 and ll of different casings vary, the difierence is taken up or allowed for by the extensions. The extensions are of relatively large diameter and when the connection is applied to a casing, give an ornamental effect of a stepped design.

The casing is of relatively thin material and it is only necessary to have the very small shoulder 22 thus the efiect is smooth and symmetrical.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein it is to be understood that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 5

What is claimed is: 1. An adjustable hinge connecter for a watch end or said each extension member to be jour- "naled ina hearing ing and separate resilient means operable independently for pressing said extension member endwise oi said tubular member.

2. A hinge element for a watch strap comprising a tubular casing, slide-bars extending from and movable axially of said casing, a pin at the exposed end of each slide-bar and a stop intermediate the ends of said casing, spring memhers disposed on opposite sides of said step ior moving said bars in opposite directions.

3. A hinge element for a watch strap comprising a tubular casing, slide-bars extending from and movable axially of said casing. a pin at the exposed end or each slide-bar and individually acting resilient means for each 01' said slide bars for equalizing the movements of said bars.

4. A hinge element for a watch strap comprising a tubular casing, slide-bars extending from and movable axially of said casing, a pin at the exposed end of each slide-bar, and separate resilient means for moving each bar.

5. A hinge element for a watch strap comprising a tubular casing, slide-bars extending from and movable axially of said casing, a pin at the exposed end of each slide-bar, a seat disposed intermediate the ends of said casing and a coiled spring at opposite sides of said seat to urge said slide-bars in opposite directions.

' SAUL RI'I'I'ER. 

